Which Distro? How do I pick?

See all Distros - Ubuntu, OpenSuSE, Fedora, Debian, Mandriva, Xandros, etc
Desktop selection. Whaaaa??? Help with choosing a desktop.
Installing Linux. Scary stuff!Installing Linux with important notes.

What is a Distro (distribution)?

A distro is a version or formal distribution of linux that really has minor differences in the standard setup of the base system but for the user the changes can be radical. There are so many linux distros around it's worth reading up on them.

Ubuntu 11.04, for the absolute newbie
Ubuntu has a huge following & has diversified more than all others into Netbooks, Notebooks, Desktops with various desktops to choose.
It is very easy to use & has arguably the best package manager (far, far better than Windows) with a massive choice of supported software. You can choose from a simple XFCE (Xubuntu) based desktop system to the standard Gnome or my personal preference, KDE (Kubuntu) installation. All of these desktops can be tuned to the ultimate desktop that is really only limited by your imagination. Normal Ubuntu lacks a centralised system control panel but Kubuntu has a panel for centralised system control.
Windows & Apple can only dream about this level of configurability but what comes with the configurations is the ability to make the desktop unusable very easily. For this reason I like to install XFCE desktop alongside my choice desktop to have a desktop to use if things go awry.

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OpenSuSE 11.4 for the non-newbie

OpenSuSE is great choice for the confident user who hasn't necessarily been exposed to Linux. OpenSuSE isn't really for a newbie because configuration takes knowing what you're doing. It is very easy to set up & also has a great package manager. OpenSuSE has a brilliant, online, single-click install & update of all software. Works well with Gnome or KDEbut KDE is the standard desktop. Has a strong, System Control Management Package called YAST2. Long-term Linux users find Yast somewhat cumbersome but for a relatively new Linux user it makes configuration of hardware, software, networks, security & user controls centralised & focused.

Which distro is for you?

I have only included Ubuntu & OpenSuSE for several reasons. Firstly, if you are happy to set the others up then you probably don't need what I offer. Secondly, I've used them both extensively & they offer an ease of use that approaches the ease of use Windows users would find. The software included has been configured extensively to work efficiently.

All information printed on these pages has been expressly written by Rex Alfie Lee of Daggerlee Computing. This page has been opened separately from the original. If you have closed the original page & wish to return to it then click on this link for
Daggerlee Computing
Dated: May 2011
Email: alfielee at gmail.com